About

This restaurant is permanently closed. Permanently Closed - A faithful neighborhood favorite, Isabella’s has been an Upper West Side institution for over two decades, a hit with locals and celebrities alike. Isabella’s defines Upper West Side dining with reliable market-fresh offerings for the Mediterranean palate. From birthdays to celebratory brunches, many a memories have been made at Isabella’s and continue unfolding at this “oasis for an unrushed, delicious meal,” according to Zagat. When the weather’s pleasant, grab a sidewalk seat in the café for a classic New York Brunch filled with people-watching, benedicts and Bloody Marys. Indulge your sweet tooth in a Chocolate Bag, a dessert staple that’s been on the menu since opening day!

We enjoyed our dinner at Isabella's, a friendly place with good food and excellent service. After we celebrated Mother's Day 2017 there, however, we were dismayed to discover that the restaurant closed permanently -- with no warning to any customers -- the very next day.

The restaurant was not crowded yet they had the 2 tops set all right next to each other in a perfectly straight line down the middle of the restaurant and seated people right next to us even though there were numerous empty 2 tops available. The straight line seating makes the space look very sterile.

We brought a party of ten people to Isabella's, and the restaurant could not have been more accommodating. Servers were attentive without being overbearing; the food was wonderful; the volume level in the restaurant was refreshingly low (our guest of honor was hard of hearing); and we were never rushed. The restaurant is beautiful and prices, while not cheap, are not high for the Upper West Side. Highly recommended for both dates and celebrations!

A lovely spot for al fresco dining for a late lunch/early dinner when the sun shines on the patio (there's an awning for shade). The backdrop of the natural history museum is great, UWS people watching fun, though the boom box from the playground across the street detracted. When it got chilly after sunset, We went inside for coffee and dessert at the bar. The staff was very accommodating and seemlessly relocated us. The food we ordered was delicious and nicely presented, especially the fig turnovers with prosciutto and Gorgonzola and a Grouper special cooked to perfection. One critique is that the menu is a bit limited and all over the place gastronomically from middle eastern to Italian to American. Our server was very well informed about the menu and mostly attentive. Our entrees arrived when we were still enjoying our appetizers, so the timing could have been better. Overall, I would come back to this iconic UWS restaurant for the combination of ambiance, location and food.

Reliable neighborhood restaurant with a touch of elegance. Lovely dining room with tablecloths and flowers accenting the room. It just feels special. It's my go-to spot with a friend who loves their grilled octopus. Yummy, fresh, well prepared. That and a glass of wine and beet/goat cheese salad hit the spot.

Isabella's is my favorite "go to" when I'm on the upper west side. The food is dependably good and fresh with healthy choices and lots of veggies. Prices are reasonable and the service is above average. We unfortunately had a loud group next to us this time but that's not the restaurant's fault.

Service was inconsistent. Food came out at all different times. No coordination between servers and runners. Had to ask several times for a wedge of lemon. The special fish was so awful. It was overcooked and fishy. All 7 diners thought the food was "meh" at best. Good location, but stick to a lousy egg brunch. Dinner service and food on a weekend is not worth the price tag.

Isabellas is a very pretty restaurant right around the corner from the Museum of Natural History. The menu is short but the dishes are well prepared. Standouts were the fig appetizer, the seafood linguine and the lasagna. Do not miss the Chocolate Bag dessert.

We have loved Isabella's for the family friendly atmosphere. We were making it a tradition to take our kids there for their birthdays. However, we just went to have dinner for our twins' 1st birthday and we noticed changes for the kids. The menu no longer has activities on it and the bendy sticks they use to give the kids are no longer provided. I specifically asked about these and they said they no longer have them. I got one set of crayons for three kids.

I hope they bring them back. It was the only place in the city where I felt like kids were really welcomed.

Situated directly across the street from the iconic Museum of Natural History, great ambience and Location.Wine or cocktails at the bar and then outdoor dining along Columbus Ave in the heart of premier Upper West Side, recommended. The entrees we ordered were good enough and reasonably priced, the service staff exceptionally friendly.

I eat here a lot because it is very convenient to the American Museum of Natural History where I work. It's nice to take visiting colleagues here for lunch. Everyone likes it. The menu does get a little monotonous, though, after a while. It's becoming a little pricey. Service is uneven.

Across the open spaces and wide street from the Natural History Museum at 77th street and Columbus Avenue, the subdued atmosphere and excellent menu get your attention right away. The tables are a little close, but there is enough room for staff to maneuver around you without contact. The wine list is fairly long and varied and the prices not exorbitant - for New York City! From homey lasagna to encrusted fish, the food was properly prepared, nicely plated and tasty. No one seemed pushy or even upset at our enjoying dinner and having great - and somewhat prolonged - conversation. A delightful venue for small groups of friends or an intimate date.